Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has called on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to appoint a high-calibre coach in the mould of Gary Kirsten or John Wright, arguing that strong coaching infrastructure is the only way Pakistan can arrest their alarming decline — a slide most recently exposed by their series failures against England.

Kaneria Praises Sri Lanka's Sonal Dinusha

Kaneria reserved his highest praise for Sri Lanka debutant Sonal Dinusha, whose gritty performance helped the island nation draw a recent Colombo Test against India. 'I have to praise Sri Lanka's Sonal Dinusha here. I think he has a fantastic career. In the coming times, his name will be written in the golden books. He completely neutralised the Indian bowling,' Kaneria said.

He also acknowledged India's Manav Suthar as a promising talent but noted that Dinusha's display underscored a structural gap between the two Asian sides. 'For India, Manav Suthar has a very good career; he has it in him to become a big bowler. But the way Sonal played, you can see the difference (between Sri Lanka and Pakistan),' he added.

Kirsten's Impact on Sri Lanka

Kaneria credited Gary Kirsten, currently Sri Lanka's head coach, with transforming the team's outlook. 'Gary Kirsten is Sri Lanka's coach. This is the difference: he identified the player, played him and see what he did. Kirsten has good players, and he is grooming them. Within 7-8 months, the Sri Lankan team will be a very dangerous team. They have a good bunch of things. The best thing is they have a fantastic coach. He knows how to pick up the team,' Kaneria said.

This comes amid a broader resurgence for Sri Lanka cricket, with younger players increasingly stepping up in high-pressure situations — a contrast to Pakistan's recurring selection and structural inconsistencies.

What Pakistan Must Do, According to Kaneria

Kaneria was unambiguous about what the PCB needs to do next. 'Pakistan need somebody like Gary Kirsten or John Wright to form a new team from a new structure,' he said, calling for a root-and-branch rebuild centred on a visionary coaching appointment.

He also pointed out Pakistan's absence of a player comparable to Dinusha. 'There is no player in Pakistan who plays like Sonal. No one comes close to him. No doubt, wickets were dead, but still. It is not easy to stand there for so long and draw a match for your country. It's a big thing,' he noted.

Kirsten's Troubled Stint With PCB

Notably, Kirsten himself served as Pakistan's white-ball coach for six months in 2024 before parting ways with the PCB amid reported differences over team management and planning. Kaneria did not mince words on that episode, suggesting systemic instability makes it difficult for quality coaches to stay. 'If a good player comes to Pakistan, he will ask for forgiveness. He will leave. Why will he stay? He will say, what is this? What I am planning, if it goes forward, it changes. If I am planning, the plan changes. What is my job? It is useless to waste time and lose respect,' Kaneria said.

The remarks reflect a growing chorus of concern from former Pakistan players about the PCB's ability to retain and empower elite coaching talent — a question that will define the board's next appointment.